Genetics Improvement for Local Cows

by Fatimah Harahap on May 25, 2016

South Tangerang – Minister for Research, Technology and Higher Education, Mohamad Nasir, had just visited the slaughterhouse (Rumah Pemotongan Hewan/RPH) in Karawaci, Banten, on Wednesday night (25/5). The purpose of this visit was to see the process of Embryo Transfer technology (ET) on the local cows.

ET technology is a second-generation biotechnology reproduction after the Artificial Insemination (AI). This technology has advantages compared to the other reproductive sciences as AI. Embryo transfer is a process, from choosing the donor cows, estrus synchronization, followed by superovulation, insemination, embryo collection, embryo handling and evacuation, embryo transfer to the recipient, and finally pregnancy and birth examination. Embryo transfer has double advantages. It is not only gaining the best DNA from both parents, but it also shorten the generation intervals, so that the cattle genetic quality improvement will be obtained faster.

Embryo transfer towards a female cow which has been superovulated and then inseminated with an excellent male sperm could produce up to 40 excellent and identical calves every year, compared to natural mating or AI, which could only produce 1 calf per year. Even identical twins could be made in large amounts by using the “Cloning” technique. ET technology could also determine the calves’ sexes (male or female) as desired.

One thing that become an obstacle is the location of the RPH that is too far away from the laboratory, which is in Bogor, because the Embryo Transfer only lasts for about 6 hours.

“I wish there were a complete facilities in this place from the slaughterhouse to the laboratory to do embryo transfer process., I also encourage not to slaughter female local cows to continuously enhance the local cows genetic improvement.” said Nasir.

Inadequate laboratory and storage room are the problems forthe ET on cows researchers. They later utilize local cows from Kupang which also must be considered by Kemristekdikti. Nasir is also targeting on the upcoming 2019, meat self-sufficiency could be realised as also stated on nawacita by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo.

Head for Laboratory Reproduction Breeding and Animal Cell Culture, Biotechnology Research Center, LIPI (Indonesian Institute of Sciences), Syahrudin Said, agreed with Nasir’s statement in regards to continuously improve the quality of laboratories in Indonesia and to support the process of Embryo Transfer on local cows. “I hope there will be a Maintenance Standard and a clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) then I’ll believe the embryo transfer towards these cows will run well,” he added.

Nasir hope for Indonesian researchers is to make it patent as soon as possible so the international community know that the Indonesian local cows from Sumba are the result of the research conducted by Indonesian. (ard,rh,wn/bkkp)